Indicating device for bottles and the like



May 5, 1925. v 1,536,067 J. S. BLINN INDICATING DEVICE FOR BOTTLES AND THE LIKE Filed Feb. 15, 1924 Mfg/ 0 Js Mafia/MK Patented May 5, I925.

JOSEPH S. BLINII, OF HAVEN, CONNECTICUT.

INDICATING DEVICE FOR BOTTLES AND THE LIKE.

Application filed February 15, 1924. SerialNo. 692,996.

ToaZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that Josnrn S. BLINN, a citizen of the UnitedlStates, and resident of New Haven, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, has invented certain new and useful Improvements in Indicating Devices for Bottles and the'like, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to devices employed for indicating that the content of a bottle or other container is a poison and said devices are intended to give a warning to careless or thoughtless persons against accidentally administeringa poison by mistake.

Various other forms of devices for indicating the contents of containers by feeling have been proposed and consist of a disk-like member having prongs or points extending beyond the stopper. The means for securing such devices include additional prongs which are turned down so as to penetrate the top of the stopper.

The improved device hereinafter described belongs to the class of devices last referred to and the invention has relation particularly to means for securing the inclicator device. so that in use, the device will not interfere with the insertion or withdrawal f the stopper. Further, by means of these improvements, the indicator device is retained on the stopper permanently against any possibility of displacement thereof when the stopper is withdrawn or inserted or otherwise handled.

In practice. the improved indicating device is applied to the closure member of the container and which member maybe either the usual cork or stopper for bottles or the cover of pill boxes. Retaining means are provided on the device for securing the same against accidental displacement.

Embodiments of the invention. will be fully described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings and the novel features will be defined in the appended claims. In said drawings Figure l is a perspective view of a bottle having a cork with the improved device carried thereon;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the improved device alone;

Figure 3 is a sectional View takenon line 33 of Figure 2, showing the improved device in the position of operation;

Figure 4 shows a modification of the de- 7-"r"of Figure 6.

vice which is designed for use with boxes;

. Figure is a sectional view taken on line '55 of Figure 4 showing the device secured to the cover of a pill box;

Figure 6 is a plan view of the device slightly modified; and

Figure 7 is a. sectional view taken on line Referring to said drawings, 1 represents a bottle of the ordinary kind having a neck 2 and the flange 3 at the upper end thereof. The closure device shown is an ordinary stopper 4 composed of cork or other suitable material. The improved indicating device consists of a disk like member 5 having a serrated edge 6 and the serrations, it will be noted, preferably are not sufficiently sharp to injure the fingers even firmly grasped. The said disk member has a central perforation 7 having retentive means consisting of projections or ears 8 along the edge of said perforation.

In the operation of the invention, the improved indicating device is placed on the smaller end of the tapered closure device, such as a cork, and owing to the pliability of the latter, the indicating device may be pushed far enough on the cork to permit the latter to be well seated in the neck of a bottle so that the device will rest on the flange of said neck and thus, in conjunction of the retentive means 8, cause the device to be securely held in place and in a way so as not to interfere with the operation of corking or uncorking the bottle.

In Figure 6 the improved device is countersunk or depressed at 9 so as to stiffen or reinforce the device. In the other modification shown in Figures 4 and 5, the projections or prongs 8 are sharpened and, turned downwardly so that they w1ll readily penetrate into the top of the pill box cover and permit of them being clinched to hold the device securely in place.

The improved device has many features of advantage, amongst which are that the device can be applied readilyto the usual containers of poisonous substances with such pill when the device is i convenience that the dispenser can have no reasonable ob ectlon against the use of this indicating device. Furthermore, the user can offer no objections because the use of the device does not in any way interfere with the opening or closing of the container. The

device is particularly eflicient in rendering positive indication to anyone taking up the bottle or container having the device thereon, either in an. abstract moment or in the darkness and this Will therefore be a means of checking, if not completely eliminating, all danger of a person taking or administering poison by mistake.

Various modifications in the construction of the device and in the application thereof may be made Without departing from the spirit of this invention and it is to be understood that any modifications coming fairly Within the terms of the appended claims shall be covered thereby.

I claim 1. An indicator of the class described composed of an indicator member having a serrated or indicating edge and retaining means for securing the device to the closure means of a bottle or container, said retaining means comprising projections or prongs extending inwardly from the edge of a hole in said indicator member, and said retaining means engaging the sides of said closure means.

2. An indicating device of the class described composed of a disc-like member having a serrated or indicating edge surrounding the closure means for a container, and a hole in said member having retentive means along the edge thereof Which engage the sides of the closure means.

Signed at New Haven, county of New Haven, State of Connecticut, this 14th day of February, 1924.

JOSEPH s. BLINN. 

